Sunday, February 7, 2010

At last.


BMWOracle Racing’s USA (top) and Alinghi’s Alinghi 5
training off Valencia


Finally, we are here.

Finally, the competition is on the water.

In just a few hours, two of the most exciting vessels ever designed and built for an America’s Cup race will meet the gun, in the waters off Valencia, Spain, for Race One of America’s Cup 33.

As the 40-mile race evolves – with windward and leeward legs of 20 miles each – we will finally see how these boats perform against each other, and against the sailing conditions.

After all the words that have been piled against AC33 defender and Alinghi chief Ernesto Bertarelli (SUI), head of Team Alinghi, and his challenger Larry Ellison (USA) of BMWOracle Racing, now those words mean nothing. That’s history.

What is real is what happens Monday, February 8, 2010, around 10:00 a.m. Central European Time, off Valencia.

We wish Ernesto well, and in the same breath, wish the same for Larry. After all, they have paid the ticket price for AC33. Now they can enjoy the show. We get to watch.

And for every sailor, every crew member, every player on the support teams – and their families – we pray for an exciting, exhilarating, thrilling – and safe – event.



1 comment:

Unknown said...

Well now with what we saw today (and I know the NW Mediterranean Sea in winter) I hope the court and Oracle will not regret too much to have fought so strong against the Emirates as a race location... Probably we would already know the winner of the first race by now... Well let's cross the thumbs for some more luck on wednesday.